The guzzler

Bustling but unhurried, bright but not garish, Mumtaz is the prime exponent of the phenomenon that is the Bradford curry. Kashmir-influenced, these are dishes of substance, unabashed in their use of dark, warm spices, the chilli heat flowing through without overpowering the raw ingredients. Chats, puris and deep-fried stuffed chillies among the starters (55p - £2.60), chicken masala desie (drumsticks), lamb sookha bouhna, paneer shahi, chana khoya among the mains served by weight (£4.10 - £5.50 for 220g, £7.50 - £10.50 for 440g). An alcohol-free zone compensated by probably the best lassi in Europe.

Quick bites... where to eat out in under 15 minutes

Kashmir , 27 Morley Street, Bradford. Tel: 01274 726513

Every now and then we all yearn for a primal blast of energy and flavour. That's the Kashmir for you. Forget lightweight, perfumed curries, relaxed, slow eating, and cutlery. This loud and brazen basement is for folk looking for a full-blown onslaught on the tastebuds. A landmark on the city's curry scene, the crowded kitchen serves up seriously sauced platefuls of chicken, lamb and veg with smoky, chewy chapatis included in the price (£2.80 - £4.80). Toothsome kebabs and bhajis for starters (50p - £2.20), Kashmiri specials, kofta, lamb trotters, quail for main courses. A five-sense experience, they don't come any better, hotter, cheaper or quicker than this.

Cobra Beer's selling point is that it makes the perfect accompaniment to curry. The website is basically an extension of the Team Saatchi ad campaign, featuring Curry Dave. Here we are given a guided tour of Dave's new "Naansion", which has a sort of Cluedo-style layout but sadly no lead piping or candelabra. You'll find links left, right and centre, telling you all about the beer, the company and its entrepreneurial founder. And some nice snapshots of Curry Dave with his lovely lady, Amanda.

Here comes the science bit: Because Cobra Beer is less fizzy than most European beers, it allows you to eat more curry - instead of filling up on gas, you can guzzle more peshwari. Eureka!

Just out

Merchant gourmet organic sun-dried tomatoes

Form: Reddish-brown shrivelled ears.

Flavour: Meaty; salty; sort of ultra-condensed tomato.

Verdict: According to the bumph, these are grown on a Sicilian farm, dried for three to five days in the sun with the help of some sea salt, and then certified organic according to QC&I International, the European certification body, whatever that might be. I'm not sure that the organic business adds anything to the flavour, which is at the aggressive end of the spectrum. Probably one to add to soups and stews rather than salads and sandwiches. In other words, the effect needs to be tempered.

On the menu Coco beans

Oh come on, a bean is a bean is a bean. Isn't it, old bean? Not when you have moth beans, runner beans, azuki beans, mung beans, soya beans, butter beans, haricot beans, kidney beans to name but a few, all of which are used for different dishes.

OK. So what's with this coco bean? It's small, white, and like a small version of an haricot bean or an even smaller version of a cannellini bean, only rounder.

Taste? Quite like a haricot bean or a cannellini bean, to be honest.

What's so special about them? They're a bit more delicate, and a bit creamier, and they go very nicely with confit of duck or roast cod.

That's it? 'Fraid so.

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